When planning a trip that lasts only a few days, it’s always important to clarify your priorities, goals and vision. This was certainly the case when the Manhattan Day School educational team came together to plan this year’s eighth-grade trip to Israel. We had the great opportunity—with help from the UJA-Federation and an anonymous foundation—of taking our students to Israel for a week as a way to foster a greater love among our students, Eretz Yisrael, and Am Yisrael.
Our question was: Should we focus on the immense tragedy, destruction and pain still felt in a grieving nation, or should we highlight the beautiful, uplifting and bright aspects of Israel? Will our students walk away with the wrong impression of the land of Israel if we take them to the site of the Nova massacre, Hostage Square and Har Herzl? Were these places age-appropriate for our students? Will visiting these places have the opposite effect and give our students a negative taste of Israel? Do we have an imperative to bring our students to these places and empower them to bear witness to the atrocities of Oct. 7? Ultimately, we had to decide what would best help us achieve our goal of cultivating a strong connection to Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael.
As I started thinking about all of these questions, I began to think about the Meraglim, the 12 spies sent by Moses to scout out the Land of Israel. I asked myself: What report would the MDS eighth-grade students return to Manhattan with after their trip to Israel? Three thousand years ago when Moses sent his spies, the response was not simple. Ten spies came back with a negative report. They told the nation, “We cannot be victorious and go up to Israel” (Numbers 13:31). But it was the words of Joshua and Caleb that continued to ring in my mind: “The land that we traversed and scouted is exceedingly good” (ibid. 14:7). This was the goal. Our students needed to return with a report that “the land is exceedingly good.”
With this phrase—“the land is exceedingly good”—providing us a clear guide to keep in mind, we then had the challenge of carefully planning a trip with the appropriate balance to accomplish our goal. How could we visit these important sites that tell the story of tragedy and pain and still walk away knowing “the land is exceedingly good”? As we got closer to our trip, I wasn’t sure that I had the answer to this question.
After returning from this incredible trip, we now know the answer. It was the resilient, hopeful, strong people of Israel who provided it to us. The Israelis we met showed us how to be optimistic even in the darkest of times. They taught us how to be positive even when facing challenges. They showed us how to be hopeful even when we feel lost. And most importantly, they showed—with every fiber of their being—how to see that, yes, “the land is exceedingly good.”
The Malbim points out there is a fundamental difference between the words “leragel,” meaning to spy, and “latur,” meaning to tour. God precisely commands the 12 men: “Latur.” The Malbim explains that “leragel” connotes to seek out the bad, while “latur” connotes to seek out the good. The people of Israel are experts in their ability to latur. Every personality we met with taught us how to find the good amid the struggles. It was through listening to the people of Israel—the grieving parents, the wounded soldiers, the army wives—that we were able to see that “the land is exceedingly good.”
While this remarkable ability to see the good and remain hopeful may come naturally to the Israeli people—woven into the very fabric of the nation—it was something we had to intentionally cultivate within our students. We feared that simply listening to these inspiring people would not be enough; we needed to help our students process and internalize what they were experiencing. To that end, we prepared reflective journals for each student, filled with guiding questions tailored to each site we visited. These prompts—using the Lifnai V’lifnim reflection method—pushed our students to confront the pain they encountered, but also to look deeper to uncover the resilience, the strength and the light within the darkness. After each meaningful stop, we came together as a group to debrief, share and process. These sessions became the heart of our journey, as students gave voice to their reflections and began to craft their own narrative of the land and its people. Through this process, our students didn’t just hear the message of the Israelis—they absorbed it. They, too, began to see what we had hoped all along: that the land is exceedingly good.
Trip highlights demonstrating positivity, hope, and optimism included:
Leket Israel: Our first stop was volunteering on the Leket Israel farm to help harvest excess produce for families in need of food. A great first lesson in finding the good and channeling it for something positive.
Hostage Square: We met with Ayelet Samerano, mother of hostage Yonatan Samerano, and Michal Illouz, father of hostage Guy Illouz. Both shared the whirlwind they have experienced since Oct. 7, their strong resolve never to give up hope that their children will return, and their unwavering faith in God.
Achuzat Sara Emunah Home: An oasis of love and hope nestled away in the middle of Bnei Brak, providing a warm home for hundreds of foster children. Our students participated in various outdoor games and sports with the Emunah foster children.
Nova Festival Site: We heard firsthand from the parents of Ron Gevilli. Ron was sitting in the hospital on the morning of Oct. 7 awaiting an operation to restore his injured arm. When he began to hear reports of an attack in the south, he immediately left the hospital and ran right into battle—with one injured arm. Nothing was going to stop him from defending the Jewish people. He was shot and abducted on Oct. 7. On the site of the Nova festival, a sefer Torah is being written in honor of Ron, and each student was given the opportunity to write one letter in the new Torah. Eighth-grade student Devora Epstain shared: “When terrible things happen, Israel knows how to make something so terrible into a beautiful and inspiring place. Every victim’s picture was decorated beautifully with things they loved and believed in. It was also special to see a sefer Torah being written there. In a place where one can easily lose faith in Hashem, it was meaningful to see a new Torah being written.”
Wounded Soldiers: We spent Shabbat with wounded soldiers who have spent over a year in hospitals and rehabs after almost losing their lives in battle. Even while they shared their difficult stories, they remained positive, light-hearted, and even comical.
Shalva: We toured the impressive Shalva headquarters, which provides services to hundreds of children with developmental disabilities each day. In addition to doing activities with the Shalva children, we met Shalva founder, Rabbi Kalman Samuels. He shared the incredible story of Shalva’s inception: He and his wife, Malki, had an infant son, Yossi, who was injured and left with severe disabilities. At the age of 8, the deaf and blind child achieved the ‘Helen Keller breakthrough.’ Working with Shoshana Weinstock, a therapist who is deaf herself, Yossi learned to understand Hebrew finger spelling simulated into the palm of his hand. Inspired by their son’s remarkable breakthrough, Kalman and Malki established Shalva. Eighth-grade student Emma Seidman shared: “It’s amazing that there is a place in Israel for people with special needs to go to receive support. They learn, play sports, do art—they do everything that all kids love to do.”
Osem Sameach: At Shaare Zedek Hospital, we partnered with Osem Sameach to deliver treats to patients, showing our students that we all have the power to help others—not just physically, but emotionally, by lifting spirits and spreading care through small acts of kindness. We saw how all Jews—even if they are strangers—care deeply for one another.
Shabbat in the Old City: Eighth-grade student Abe Newton shared: “One of my highlights was davening Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel on Friday night. Even though the nation is going through a terrible war, we are still able to sing ‘Tov Lehodot L’Hashem’—‘It is good to thank Hashem.’ It was a special Shabbat!”
Barbecue on an Army Base: We visited the Tsillim Army Base where we provided both a barbecue and a DJ for the soldiers. The soldiers had just returned from fighting in Gaza (and would be reentering Gaza in just a few days) but were still able to dance with such optimism, unity and faith. We came to uplift them, but really they uplifted us with their energy and positivity! Eighth-grade student Tzvi Rozenberg shared: “It’s amazing to see soldiers who have been through so much have so much joy.”
United Hatzalah: We went to the United Hatzalah headquarters, where our group took part in the dedication of an ambucar in memory of cousins Yosef Guedalia and Ben Zussman—the great-grandchildren of MDS founders Charles and Els Bendheim—who fell in battle defending Am Yisrael. Their families shared how meaningful it was to memorialize these two heroes with a vehicle that would be used to save Jewish lives continuing the exact mission that these heroes died while doing.
Har Herzl: At Har Herzl we heard from Sara Zimbalist, mother of fallen soldier Eli Moshe Zimbalist, HY”D. Through stories about Eli Moshe’s life, we were inspired to use every minute of our day to help those around us, and to use our talents for good.
Knesset: We learned about Israel’s parliamentary government while touring the Knesset. We were privileged to be addressed by four Knesset Members who all shared their visions of a brighter future for the nation of Israel.
